A blog from an Australian passionate about spending money on beauty products, and then talking about them.

Main menu

Monthly Archives: November 2017

Summer is around the corner, and with that comes the damaging rays of Sydney’s sunshine. Cancer Council Australia published a survey today revealing that 2.7 million Aussies are getting sunburnt on a week – don’t be a statistic! Protect your skin and your health.

This post is coming to you from sunny Bali, where I’m getting a head start on summer. I am crazy about sun protection, and want you to be too. Excessive sun exposure and a lack of sun protection is the number one way of ageing your skin, and undoing all the good skincare routines you have.

There is a lot of talk of chemical and physical sunscreens in beauty media – I personally like a combination of the two, and think there is no such thing as too much sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens essentially soak up the sun’s rays, like a protective sponge. Physical sunscreens protect your skin by creating a physical layer between the sun and your skin.

Physical sunscreen is recommended for those with sensitive skin and for children; chemical sunscreens are ideal to mix with makeup. Physical sunscreens are a lot thicker and sit on top of the skin, whereas a chemical sunscreen mixes and blends into the skin a lot more easily.

As always, here are my recommendations… complete with a Bali backdrop.

Neutrogena Beach Defence

This stuff comes in a spray bottle, and comes out really thin and easy to apply. Recommended for difficult to reach spots on your body, as you can angle the spray directly onto those areas. I’ve been using this sunscreen religiously for years and have never been burnt whilst wearing it. It is absorbed easily by the skin and has an inoffensive scent. It does leave a bit of residue, so I recommend it for casual wear, or let it dry properly and then get dressed.

RRP: $16.99

As you can see, the product is extremely minimalist.

Invisible Zinc

This stuff is when I want to be really serious about my sun protection. It’s thick, takes ages to rub in and leaves a nice, white layer where you apply it. If you are going to be shamelessly in the sun all day, this is the stuff for you – you won’t get the ultimate Instagram shot wearing this stuff, but you will save your skin.

RRP: $21.95

This product is thick and serious.

Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster

This is a new addition to my skincare, and is ideal for incidental sun exposure (e.g. walking to a cafe). It is a chemical sunscreen, so is easily absorbed by the skin and is nice to mix in with your usual moisturiser. It’s not enough on it’s own as skincare, so should be mixed with whatever you are already applying as your base layer. SPF 50 – very serious sun protection yet less effortful than the Invisible Zinc.

RRP: $72.50 (can easily be found cheaper online/ in salons)

Texture is thin and easily applied – like a normal moisturiser.

So those are my top 3 sunscreen recommendations for this summer. Don’t look prematurely old – slip, slop, slap and wear a hat.